15 Business Management Programs for High School Students in Toronto
- Stephen Turban
- Jun 15
- 10 min read
If you’re interested in business, participating in a structured program can help you explore how organizations make decisions, manage resources, and respond to changing markets. These opportunities introduce you to areas such as entrepreneurship, finance, leadership, marketing, and strategy while helping you develop analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills. They also provide a closer look at the different academic and career pathways available within business.
In Toronto, business management programs are offered through universities, entrepreneurship organizations, leadership initiatives, and industry-focused educational providers. These opportunities range from pre-college courses and startup programs to leadership academies, business competitions, conferences, and mentorship-based experiences, giving students multiple ways to engage with the field.
Why should I do a business management program in high school?
Business management programs allow you to explore how ideas are developed, evaluated, and turned into sustainable ventures or organizations. You might analyze case studies, develop business plans, work on entrepreneurial projects, learn about financial decision-making, collaborate in teams, or present solutions to business challenges with guidance from instructors and mentors. These experiences can help you build practical knowledge, strengthen leadership and communication skills, and gain a better understanding of whether business is a field you would like to pursue.
To help with your search, below is a list of 15 business management programs for high school students in Toronto.
Location: Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, ON
Cost: Free for all participants, supported by Scotiabank
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Selective admission for Ontario high school students from equity-deserving groups
Dates: July 7–July 24
Application Deadline: Applications open mid-March
Eligibility: Open to Ontario students in Grades 10–12 who identify as part of equity-deserving communities, including Black, Indigenous, BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+ students, and students with disabilities
The Schulich Business Excellence Academy runs for three weeks at York University’s Schulich School of Business. You attend structured evening sessions that introduce strategy, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, leadership, and technology in business. Small-group discussions are led by undergraduate “Pod Leaders,” which keeps the learning practical rather than lecture-heavy. The program ends with an in-person case competition where you apply what you’ve learned to a business scenario. You also receive a campus tour and connect with Schulich faculty and students, giving you early exposure to business school culture.
Location: Virtual, hosted by Lumiere Education
Cost: Varies; Need-based financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: 12-week program; Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.3+
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a research-focused opportunity designed for high school students who want to explore academic topics in depth. You work 1-on-1 with a Ph.D. mentor on an independent project in a subject area you choose. Over the course of twelve weeks, you learn how to form a research question, gather information, and develop your ideas into a full research paper. You can select from fields such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and several others.
Location: St. Clement’s School, 21 St. Clements Ave, Toronto, ON
Cost: $1,275 CAD; no refunds offered due to planning
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Limited to 20 students per class
Dates: Multi-week sessions throughout summer; duration varies by intake
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students in Grades 10–12 with an interest in entrepreneurship and business innovation
The Build Your Own Venture program by Explorer Hop allows you to launch a real business while developing professional-level entrepreneurial skills. Across several weeks, you’ll learn to identify market opportunities, create business plans, design brands, manage finances, and market your products, all while building your own enterprise with zero startup capital. Each participant or team works toward launching a functioning business and prepares supporting materials that can strengthen university applications. The program includes hands-on mentorship, media outreach training, and social entrepreneurship components, allowing you to connect your business to a charitable cause through partnerships with organizations such as UNICEF or Doctors Without Borders.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions.
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program provides school students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. Participants work with academics from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4-10 students. They attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with their tutor. The program includes practical experiences such as dissections in medicine, building robotic arms in engineering, and moot courts in law. Students can choose from over 20 subjects, including architecture, artificial intelligence, business management, computer science, economics, medicine, philosophy, and more. By the end of the program, they complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Trinity College, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Cost: $5,500 CAD (includes accommodation, meals, excursions, insurance, and transfers)
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Open-enrollment, limited spots per session
Dates: July 5–July 18 and July 19–August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until sessions are full
Eligibility: Students ages 14–18 with intermediate to advanced English proficiency (IELTS 4.0+ recommended)
At Trinity College, this two-week residential course focuses on building and managing a business idea from early concept to a structured plan. You attend daily sessions where instructors walk you through market research, pricing decisions, branding, and financial forecasting. Teams work on developing ventures, testing whether the numbers make sense, and whether the idea is actually viable. You prepare pitch materials that outline costs, revenue streams, and customer targets. The program ends with a formal presentation in a “Shark Tank” style setting where you explain your business model to evaluators. Living on campus adds structure and long working days that feel closer to a real project cycle.
Location: New College, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Cost: $6,275 CAD (international all-inclusive) or $4,850 CAD (domestic rate); includes tuition, residence, meals, health insurance, and excursions
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Open-enrollment with limited class sizes per course
Dates: June 14–July 4, July 5–July 25, or July 26–August 15
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students aged 15–18 with advanced English proficiency
This three-week program places you inside actual university classrooms. If you choose courses like World Economics or Global Leadership, you spend mornings and afternoons attending lectures, completing readings, and writing assignments. You are graded on participation, written work, and presentations. Discussions move through economic systems, global trade, policy decisions, and leadership structures in different regions. You live in residence, manage your schedule, and handle deadlines the way first-year students do. The academic rhythm is steady, and the focus stays on understanding how business and management operate within larger economic systems.
Location: ILAC International High School, 120 Bloor St. E., Toronto, ON
Cost: $8,900 CAD for 7 weeks (2 credits), $6,650 CAD for 7 weeks (1 credit), or $5,900 CAD for 4 weeks (non-credit); includes tuition, homestay, meals, activities, and airport transfers
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Open enrollment with selective placement for credited courses
Dates: July–August (4-week and 7-week options available)
Application Deadline: Rolling until spaces are filled
Eligibility: Students in Grades 9–12; suitable for international or domestic students seeking business, leadership, or cultural immersion
The ILAC International High School Academic Summer Camp allows you to earn Ontario high school credits or gain first-hand experience in Canadian education through immersive summer courses. You can enroll in one or two accredited classes, such as International Business Fundamentals or Business Leadership: Management Fundamentals, both designed to strengthen your understanding of global business and management principles. Classes run full days with a mix of lectures, workshops, and project-based learning led by certified teachers. Outside the classroom, you’ll live with a host family, explore Toronto through organized activities and weekend excursions, and take part in cultural trips, like a free visit to Niagara Falls.
Location: Partner high schools across Toronto, ON (Toronto District School Board–approved)
Cost: Free for participating schools and students
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Limited to selected partner schools; class sizes vary
Dates: Offered during the academic year; schedule coordinated with participating schools
Application Deadline: Requests accepted year-round through the Summit Leaders website
Eligibility: Open to high school students attending participating Toronto District School Board schools
The High School Entrepreneurship Program by Summit Leaders brings practical business education directly to Toronto classrooms through a series of in-person workshops and mentorship sessions. You will work in teams to develop business ideas, refine pitches, and present them in a culminating entrepreneurship competition. Guided by MBA student mentors, you’ll learn how to identify opportunities, think strategically, and communicate effectively while gaining a realistic perspective on starting and running a venture. Designed to make entrepreneurship education more accessible, the program especially supports students from underserved communities.
Location: Toronto Grand Convention Centre, 30 Baywood Road, Toronto, ON
Cost: $300 CAD for international participants; $100 CAD for African delegates (includes access to sessions and networking events)
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Open registration; limited capacity based on venue size
Dates: April 20–22
Application Deadline: Registration open until the event starts or until sold out
Eligibility: Youth entrepreneurs and students aged 18+ interested in business, leadership, and global innovation
This three-day conference brings students and young entrepreneurs together at the Toronto Grand Convention Centre. You attend keynote talks, panel discussions, and structured workshops on topics like startup funding, digital transformation, and sustainable management practices. There are dedicated networking sessions where you speak directly with founders and professionals. The setting is professional rather than academic, and conversations often revolve around scaling, market positioning, and operational challenges. It is exposure to how business management discussions unfold in real industry spaces.
Location: St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Cost: Starts from $965 per; includes meals, excursions, and supervision
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Small classes (1:15 teacher-to-student ratio)
Dates: Multiple two-week sessions from July 5–August 9
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions while seats remain available
Eligibility: Students aged 13–17 with upper-intermediate (B2+) English proficiency
The Business & AI Summer Camp at the University of Toronto combines two forward-looking study tracks (Business Leadership and AI & App Design), offering a practical introduction to entrepreneurship and emerging technologies. You’ll study in real university classrooms, gaining hands-on experience through project-based lessons, teamwork, and daily leadership challenges. Topics include global business, marketing, innovation, and data-driven technology applications. The program follows a “learn it, live it” model, connecting classroom learning to real-world experiences through excursions, workshops, and cultural events. You’ll also join excursions to Niagara Falls, Ripley’s Aquarium, and city landmarks while participating in activities like debates, creative clubs, and leadership games.
Location: 80 Birmingham Street, Toronto, ON
Cost: $499 CAD
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Open enrollment; limited seats (first-come, first-served)
Dates: July 7–August 29
Application Deadline: Rolling until sessions are filled
Eligibility: Students aged 9–18 interested in business and entrepreneurship
The Youth Entrepreneurship Summer Camp by Business Crafters 3.0 offers you a hands-on introduction to business creation, management, and leadership. Over one or two weeks, you’ll learn from experienced entrepreneurs and CEOs through workshops on marketing, business planning, content strategy, and growth management. You’ll also engage in outdoor activities and practical exercises designed to help you apply what you learn in real-world contexts. Each participant develops a personalized business action plan and portfolio while receiving mentorship from local business professionals. Guest speakers and networking sessions provide insight into the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship.
Location: City of Toronto, Economic Development & Culture Division (Toronto, ON)
Cost: Free to participate; grants of up to $3,000 CAD (two disbursements of $1,500 each)
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Competitive selection based on eligibility and business plan feasibility
Dates: Operates 8–12 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Ontario students aged 15–29 who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, returning to school in the fall, and able to operate a new business full-time over the summer
The Summer Company Grant program supports young entrepreneurs in Toronto who want to start and run their own business during the summer months. After submitting a business plan and being accepted, you receive up to $3,000 in two installments. You attend training sessions covering financial management, marketing strategy, and business registration requirements. Throughout the summer, you operate your business full-time while meeting with mentors who review your progress. It is direct exposure to managing revenue, expenses, and customers.
Location: The Westin Toronto Airport Hotel, 950 Dixon Rd, Toronto, ON
Cost: Registration fees vary by category (delegates, students, and virtual participants); scholarships are not specified
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Selective; research abstracts are peer-reviewed for inclusion in the conference proceedings
Dates: August 19–20
Application Deadline: Abstract submission and registration close on February 10
Eligibility: Open to students, scholars, professionals, and young entrepreneurs with an interest in entrepreneurship, innovation, and business strategy
This hybrid conference gathers business scholars, investors, and founders for two days of sessions focused on innovation and competitiveness. You can attend presentations, panel discussions, and workshops examining how companies grow and compete internationally. Students who submit abstracts may present research connected to entrepreneurship or management strategy. Conversations often revolve around funding structures, operational models, and cross-border expansion. It places you inside a professional discussion about how business management is practiced globally.
Location: 2300 Sheppard Avenue West, Suite LL17, Toronto, ON
Cost: Free of charge; supported through community and organizational sponsorships
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Limited cohort; selective admission based on interest and commitment
Dates: February 24 – January 28
Application Deadline: Rolling until capacity is reached
Eligibility: Youth aged 14–30 from any educational or employment background; open to high school students
The Youth Entrepreneurship Training Program by YNOT Services is a year-long, in-person initiative aimed at helping you transform ideas into sustainable ventures. Meeting monthly over twelve months, this training combines practical learning with mentorship from business professionals. You’ll choose from one of three focus tracks: Local Business Strategy, Social Media Marketing, or Catering. Throughout the program, you’ll work on business planning, marketing, financial literacy, and leadership development. The curriculum emphasizes ethical entrepreneurship and community impact, incorporating faith-based values and social responsibility. The program culminates in a final business pitch and showcase, where participants present their ventures and receive feedback from judges.
Location: Ivey Business School, Western University, London, ON
Cost: $450 (includes residence, meals, and program materials); limited financial assistance available
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Selective admission based on leadership experience and statement of interest
Dates: August 3–7
Application Deadline: Opens April 1
Eligibility: Students currently in Grades 9–11 with a strong interest in business, leadership, and innovation
At Ivey Business School, you spend several days working through real business cases in small teams. The classroom format revolves around discussion, where you are expected to read, analyze, and speak up. Faculty guide you through leadership dilemmas, operational decisions, and management trade-offs. You and your group break down what a company did, what it missed, and the alternative paths it could have taken. Even outside formal sessions, conversations tend to circle back to how decisions are made inside organizations. The final presentation in the BMO Auditorium requires you to explain your team’s thinking clearly and respond to questions from instructors and peers.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.